The Miami Dolphins signed quarterback Malik Willis to a big three-year contract despite his limited NFL experience. Willis says the team's wide receivers compete hard every day, which makes them better, even though none of them is a top established star yet.
Key Facts
Malik Willis signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal with the Miami Dolphins in March.
Willis has started only six NFL games in his career and one for the Green Bay Packers last season.
The Dolphins currently do not have a clear top wide receiver (WR1).
Willis believes daily competition among wide receivers is improving the group.
Miami’s top receivers include Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, and Caleb Douglas, with several rookies on the roster.
Veteran tight end Greg Dulcich is considered the most proven offensive receiving threat on the team.
The wide receiver group has a mix of skills, like Washington’s agility, Tolbert’s route running, and Atwell’s speed.
Rookie Caleb Douglas, a tall and physical player picked in the third round, has attracted attention this offseason.
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The New York Rangers have signed defenseman Scott Morrow to a one-year contract for the 2026-27 season. Morrow, a young player, is expected to develop into an important part of the team's defense.
Key Facts
Scott Morrow signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers for the 2026-27 season.
His NHL salary will be $850,000, and his salary in the AHL will be $125,000.
Morrow played 29 games for the Rangers last season and made six assists.
He also played 34 games in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring five goals and 14 assists.
The Rangers acquired Morrow during the 2025 offseason in a trade involving K’Andre Miller going to the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Rangers view Morrow as a key young player for their future defense lineup.
Morrow is 23 years old.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to a one-year, $30 million contract extension with defensive tackle Vita Vea. This deal will keep Vea on the team through the 2027 season as he continues his football career.
Key Facts
Vita Vea is a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He requested a trade to improve his contract but the Buccaneers chose to keep him.
Vea's new deal is for one year, worth $30 million, extending his contract through 2027.
He will earn $6 million in new money for the upcoming season.
Vea has played nine professional seasons and was key in the Buccaneers' 2020/21 Super Bowl win.
He is known as one of the best nose tackles and a strong run stopper with pass-rushing ability.
His total earnings will be $48 million over the next two seasons, with pay increases in 2026 and 2027.
His new salary is lower than some other top defensive tackles’ contracts, such as Jalen Carter.
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Dylan Stewart, a key defensive player for the South Carolina Gamecocks, will miss the start of the college football season due to a back injury. Offensive lineman Jacarrius Peak is also sidelined with a knee injury but both players are expected to return later in the season.
Key Facts
Dylan Stewart is an edge rusher who plays defense for South Carolina.
Stewart has a back injury from last season and will not play in the first game on September 5.
Jacarrius Peak, an offensive lineman, is out with a knee injury from basketball.
Coach Shane Beamer said neither injury is long-term, but they will miss the season start.
Stewart was named to the preseason All-American first team and is a strong NFL Draft prospect.
Stewart is 6-foot-6 and 247 pounds, with 11 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss in two seasons.
South Carolina’s early games include Kent State on September 5 and Towson on September 12 before facing tougher competition.
Freshmen Julian Walker and Darius Gray are performing well and may see more playing time while Stewart and Peak recover.
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Jaylen Waddle, a new player for the Denver Broncos, recently returned to practice after a leg injury and impressed by beating top cornerback Pat Surtain II in a one-on-one drill. Surtain praised Waddle's speed and ability to turn short catches into long touchdowns, making him hard to defend.
Key Facts
Jaylen Waddle missed the Broncos' preseason opener due to a left leg muscle strain.
Waddle returned to practice and beat Pat Surtain II on a long touchdown catch.
Pat Surtain II described Waddle as a player who can quickly turn small gains into big plays.
Waddle played five seasons with the Miami Dolphins before joining the Broncos.
He had three straight seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards, including 1,356 yards in 2022.
Waddle’s average yards per catch in 2022 was 18.1, the second highest in the NFL.
Denver hopes Waddle and Courtland Sutton will create a strong offensive combination.
Quarterback Bo Nix connected with Waddle on the long touchdown during practice.
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Alabama and Tennessee will both wear their home-colored jerseys in their football game on October 17, 2024. This is allowed because both teams agreed in writing, and their conference approved, so Alabama will not face any penalties.
Key Facts
Both Alabama and Tennessee announced they will wear home jerseys for their game on October 17.
NCAA rules say both teams can wear colored jerseys if the home team agrees in writing and the conference approves the colors as contrasting.
Without this agreement, the visiting team would face penalties like losing timeouts and getting unsportsmanlike conduct calls.
Tennessee and Alabama have followed the rules properly, so Alabama will not lose timeouts or get penalties.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) approved this move to bring back a tradition not seen since 1970.
Tennessee’s athletic director thanked Alabama for helping restore this tradition in their rivalry game.
Alabama leads the series against Tennessee with 61 wins, 39 losses, and 8 ties.
Alabama won the previous meeting last year with a score of 37-20.
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The college football rivalry game between Alabama and Tennessee, known as the Third Saturday in October, will feature both teams wearing their home jerseys in 2026 and 2027. This will be the first time in over 50 years that both teams wear home colors in these matchups, restoring a tradition that last occurred in 1967.
Key Facts
Alabama and Tennessee will both wear their home jerseys in the 2026 game in Knoxville and the 2027 game in Tuscaloosa.
The last time this happened was 56 years ago, in 1967, during a game in Knoxville.
Tennessee has never worn its orange jerseys in Tuscaloosa before, partly because games often took place in Birmingham.
The rivalry has been played almost every year since 1928, except 1943 due to World War II.
Alabama leads the rivalry with 61 wins, Tennessee has 39, and there have been 8 ties.
The 2026 game will be the 109th meeting between the two teams.
Athletic directors and school leaders from both universities and the Southeastern Conference supported bringing back the home jersey tradition.
Coaches and officials say this change adds to the special history and excitement of the rivalry.
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The Houston Texans and Las Vegas Raiders held a joint football practice ahead of their preseason game. Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza impressed defensive player Will Anderson Jr., who praised Mendoza’s energy and leadership during the session.
Key Facts
The Texans and Raiders practiced together before their preseason game on Thursday night.
Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall draft pick and rookie quarterback, took part in his first joint practice.
Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. expressed strong respect for Mendoza’s energy and ability to encourage his teammates.
Mendoza shared playing time with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins during practice.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said Mendoza performed well and he looks forward to reviewing the practice footage.
Mendoza described the practice as a good chance to learn the fast pace and different challenges of professional football.
The preseason game between the two teams is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Thursday.
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The Minnesota Vikings have named Kyler Murray as their starter quarterback for the 2026 NFL season. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said that backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy is competing for playing time and that the team wants him to prepare like a starter.
Key Facts
The Vikings confirmed Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback for 2026 on August 11.
J.J. McCarthy, the former 10th overall draft pick, is currently the backup quarterback.
Coach O'Connell said McCarthy has done well in practice and wants a competitive quarterback group.
McCarthy is 23 years old and has one season of starting experience in the NFL.
Last season, McCarthy completed 57.6% of his passes, threw 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 10 games.
The Vikings traded up in the draft two years ago to select McCarthy, aiming for him to be the future starter.
Veteran quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer are also competing for playing time.
The quarterback positions may still change depending on performance in the coming weeks.
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The Atlanta Falcons put running back Trey Sermon on injured reserve after signing him recently. Sermon has played for several NFL teams, and the Falcons are adjusting their running back lineup as they prepare for the 2026 season.
Key Facts
Trey Sermon was placed on injured reserve by the Atlanta Falcons.
Sermon signed with the Falcons on August 10, 2025, after being with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He was originally drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021.
Sermon has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts.
In 2024, Sermon ran 72 times for 258 yards and scored two touchdowns with the Colts.
The Falcons lost their second-string running back, Tyler Allgeier, to the Arizona Cardinals.
Atlanta added Brian Robinson Jr. and Tyler Goodson to their running back group earlier in the offseason.
The Falcons start their 2026 season on September 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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The Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots held a joint football practice where Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell faced off against Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown. Mitchell said Brown looked faster and better this year, while Brown said he won their matchup despite some holding by Mitchell.
Key Facts
The Eagles and Patriots practiced together in Foxborough.
Quinyon Mitchell is a cornerback for the Eagles.
A.J. Brown is a wide receiver who was traded from the Eagles to the Patriots this offseason.
During their 1-on-1 matchup, Mitchell prevented a deep catch from Brown in the end zone.
Mitchell said Brown looked faster and better than before.
Brown caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and 7 touchdowns last season with the Eagles.
Brown mentioned Mitchell held him during their matchup but pulled back before the play finished.
The two teams will play a preseason game soon after this practice.
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The Los Angeles Chargers plan to have quarterback Justin Herbert play the first series in their preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, then the backup players will finish the game. Herbert is eager to get some real playing time as the team prepares for the 2026 season, and the new offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel, looks forward to seeing Herbert in action under the new system.
Key Facts
Justin Herbert did not play in the Chargers' preseason opener against the Houston Texans.
Herbert is expected to play only the opening series in the upcoming game versus the San Francisco 49ers.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said the starters will play just one series before backups take over.
Herbert is excited to play again after not playing in an official game for some time.
Mike McDaniel is the new offensive coordinator for the Chargers.
McDaniel said seeing Herbert play in a live game helps both the player and coach adjust to the new system.
The game is part of the Chargers’ preparation for the 2026 regular season.
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Tyler Shough, the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback, showed promise in his rookie season with a high completion rate on short and medium throws. However, he struggled with long passes and taking pressure plays, and this upcoming season will be important for his future as the team's leader.
Key Facts
Shough became the Saints' starting quarterback midway through last season.
He completed 69.2% of his passes as a starter, the best rate for a rookie in Saints history.
His completion rate for throws over 20 yards was only 26%, the lowest in the NFL.
Shough had the second-worst pressure-to-sack ratio in the league.
The Saints aim to become a playoff contender but need Shough to improve.
The team has added more talent around Shough to support him.
The 2026 season is seen as a crucial test for Shough’s development.
Shough needs to improve his long throws and reduce negative plays that hurt the offense.
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Marvin Harrison Jr., a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, has not met the high expectations set for him in his first two NFL seasons. As he approaches the 2026 season, there is increasing pressure for him to improve his performance and prove his value to the team.
Key Facts
Marvin Harrison Jr. was the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL draft.
Over the past two seasons, he has caught 103 of 189 passes thrown to him, ranking 42nd out of 43 players targeted at least 180 times.
Other Cardinals players like Trey McBride and Michael Wilson have gained more offensive prominence, moving ahead of Harrison.
Questions exist about the influence of the Cardinals’ offense and quarterback Kyler Murray on Harrison’s performance.
Sports analysts see the 2026 season as pivotal for Harrison’s career trajectory.
A strong 2026 season could help Harrison meet expectations and improve his future contract opportunities.
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Puka Nacua, a top wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams, has been very productive on the football field but faced several off-field issues in the past year. He entered rehab to improve his behavior and is preparing for an important season under his rookie contract without a new deal yet.
Key Facts
Puka Nacua is one of the NFL’s most productive wide receivers, leading the league with 107.2 receiving yards per game last season.
His career average of 95.3 receiving yards per game is on track to be the best in NFL history.
He had off-field issues, including entering rehab to improve his behavior.
Nacua denied allegations related to a lawsuit filed against him.
He suffered a facial injury from running into a window but has been able to participate fully in training camp.
Nacua is in the final year of his rookie contract without a contract extension.
A strong upcoming season is important for his future contract and career.
Off-field struggles could create challenges if they continue during this season.
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The University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels and North Carolina State (NC State) Wolfpack college basketball teams will play a new neutral-site game called the Tobacco Road Classic in Greensboro, North Carolina. This game will happen over the next two seasons and is separate from their usual conference schedule.
Key Facts
Last season, UNC and NC State played only one regular-season basketball game, the first time since 1919 with so few matchups.
Due to changes in their conference's schedule, they were originally set to play just once this upcoming season in Chapel Hill.
The new Tobacco Road Classic will be held at a neutral location in Greensboro.
This game is considered a non-conference matchup.
The next Tobacco Road Classic game will take place on December 15.
Both teams have new head coaches: Justin Gainey for NC State and Michael Malone for UNC.
Coach Malone comes from the NBA and is new to college basketball rivalries.
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The New York Jets had a very poor season in 2025, finishing with a 3-14 record and the worst point difference in the NFL. Former team coaches criticized head coach Aaron Glenn’s leadership and the team’s overall performance, though some acknowledged the difficult situation he inherited.
Key Facts
The Jets finished the 2025 season with 3 wins and 14 losses.
They had the worst point differential in the NFL at minus 203. Point differential means the difference between points scored and points allowed.
The Jets did not make the playoffs for the 15th year in a row.
The team started the season with seven straight losses.
They scored the fourth-fewest points and allowed the second-most points in the league.
The Jets became the first NFL team to complete a season without any interceptions (catching the ball from the opposing team).
Some coaches criticized Aaron Glenn for being distant with the media and for coaching decisions like benching their quarterback.
Other coaches defended Glenn, saying he took over a team with many problems and tough decisions.
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English footballer Harry Kane won the European Golden Shoe award for the second time. He scored more goals than other top players like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
Key Facts
Harry Kane is an English football player.
He currently plays as a striker for Bayern Munich.
Kane won the European Golden Shoe award twice in his career.
The Golden Shoe is given to the top goalscorer in European leagues.
Kane scored more goals than Erling Haaland from Manchester City.
Kylian Mbappe, who won the World Cup Golden Boot, was also a competitor.
The award recognizes the best goalscorer across European football leagues.
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The Dallas Wings announced that Azzi Fudd will miss the rest of the WNBA season due to knee surgery. Fudd, the team's top draft pick, has been sidelined with soreness and will not return this year, impacting the team's chances in the playoffs.
Key Facts
Azzi Fudd will have arthroscopic surgery to treat right knee soreness and miss the rest of the season.
Fudd was the Dallas Wings' first overall pick in the April draft.
In her rookie season, she averaged 13.1 points, 1.8 assists, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game.
Fudd made history as the first rookie to win the WNBA 3-point contest.
She last played on August 5, scoring nine points with three assists and three steals.
The Wings currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot with a 20-16 record.
Dallas has lost 7 of their last 10 games and is on a two-game losing streak.
Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale remain the team's top scorers after Fudd’s injury.
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Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren left practice with a groin injury and was seen limping with trainers. Warren had a strong rookie season and earned Pro-Bowl honors.
Key Facts
Tyler Warren is a second-year tight end for the Indianapolis Colts.
He left practice on Wednesday due to an apparent groin injury.
Warren returned to the sideline without a helmet but still in uniform.
He was the Colts’ No. 14 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
In his rookie year, Warren caught 76 passes for 817 yards and 4 touchdowns.
He also scored one rushing touchdown in goal-line situations.
The Colts signed veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen on the same day.
The Colts will play the Atlanta Falcons in their next preseason game on Saturday.
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